Russia-Ukraine War, US-DJI Drama, 21 New Product Launches, and more!
BLOS Update Week 42: 14 Oct - 20 Oct
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Hi there,
It’s week 42 2024 and here’s this week’s newsletter to start off your week on. It’s longer than usual — 69 stories — because a LOT has happened last week.
Defence & Security
Ukraine – Russia
The Kalashnikov Group has successfully tested its new 1kg drone, called Goliath, in Ukraine. The drone is designed for ISTAR and strike capability.
Russia have upgraded their Shahed-136 drones with a new electro-optical homing head and satcom capabilities. These have also been a difficult target at launch, even with precise weaponry and are also likely already armed and fuelled, ready to be launched.
Romania scrambled four fighter jets after a small unidentified object (possibly a Russian drone) breached its airspace over Constanta, near the Black Sea. The pilots couldn't spot the drone.
Ukraine now has over 200 companies producing both reconnaissance and combat drones. The country now have the capacity to produce more drones than the Ukrainian military can procure due to funding limitations. Companies are urging the Ukrainian government to permit exports of these battle-proven drone systems.
The “Witches of Bucha”, a mostly women comprised volunteer air defence unit in Bucha, Ukraine, have been defending against Russian drone attacks using old Soviet-era machine guns.
Meanwhile from outside Ukraine: France is sending its first domestically made kamikaze drones manufactured by Delair to Ukraine as part of its military aid, and the U.S. has imposed sanctions on two Chinese companies and one Russian affiliate for producing and supplying attack drones used by Russia in Ukraine.
Israel – Palestine
In his final moments, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was caught on drone footage during an IDF operation in Rafah. He was seen trying to evade capture, even attempting to down an IDF drone with a stick.
Capability and Tech development Trials and Exercises
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) completed fatigue testing on its MQ-9B aircraft, validating a "second lifetime" of 80,000 hours. The company also announced its presence at the U.S. Army Vanguard demos in September to showcase the Gray Eagle Extended Range (GE-ER) advanced long-range communication and target detection capabilities.
The Schiebel CAMCOPTER S-100 demonstrated its multi-mission capabilities at NATO’s REPMUS 2024, excelling in ISR and maritime awareness, highlighting its versatility and autonomous features in naval operations.
Thales showcased autonomous drone swarms, using AI to reduce operator workload while maintaining oversight, with the potential to boost efficiency and resilience in military missions.
Airbus U.S. Space & Defense successfully demonstrated the UH-72B Lakota’s cargo transport capabilities for the U.S. Marine Corps’ Aerial Logistics Connector program, with further tests planned through 2025.
RTX demonstrated collaborative drone autonomy at EDGE 2024, enhancing U.S. Army reconnaissance capabilities. The system utilises Collins Aerospace's RapidEdge™ mission tools alongside Raytheon's autonomous capabilities.
Contracts and Partnerships
Airbus and its European partners demonstrated manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) across France and Italy, showing enhanced coordination between manned helicopters and UAS under the MUSHER project, as part of the European Defence Industrial Development Programme.
Red Cat Holdings secured a total of $2.6 million in contracts for its Edge 130 Blue tricopter UAS with U.S. Defense Logistics Agency ($1.6 million) and U.S. Army CECOM ($1 million).
AeroVironment plans to produce the Switchblade 600 loitering munition in Ukraine through a local partnership, aiming to simplify operations and improve training, pending U.S. government approval.
Invariant Corporation, in collaboration with Anduril Federal, secured a $400 million contract to develop an anti-drone system for the U.S. Marine Corps, with work ongoing through 2031.
DARPA awarded Sikorsky $6 million to equip a U.S. Army Black Hawk with MATRIX™ autonomous flight technology, enhancing mission flexibility and safety.
Some news from China
China unveiled the Lanying R6000 tiltrotor drone, capable of carrying 2 tons, with a range of 4,000 km and speeds up to 340 mph, supporting logistics, rescue, and surveillance. It resembles the Bell V-22 Osprey and Leonardo AW609.
As covered in last week’s newsletter, US and Taiwan are collaborating on drone technology. In response, China has imposed sanctions on several U.S. military companies and executives, freezing assets, banning transactions, and denying entry as part of its broader countermeasures.
Counter-UAS
The U.S. Army’s Stryker vehicle now features an advanced counter-drone system with lasers, rockets, and guns, using AI for real-time tracking to defend against various drone threats, unveiled at AUSA 2024.
Boeing’s Compact Laser Weapon System (CLWS) successfully neutralized drones at Saudi Arabia's Red Sands, demonstrating its 5-kilowatt laser's effectiveness against Group 3 drones.
Four University of Toronto students’ startup, Prandtl Dynamics, developed a sound-based anti-drone system that disrupts navigation, earning second place in a military competition and attracting interest from the Canadian Army, though it needs range improvements.
Bluelight (Emergency Services)
Whitehall, Ohio, approved a $49,000 drone for police use despite privacy concerns, with plans to follow regulations similar to body cams, aiming for program implementation by November.
Commercial
New Services
Tokyo-based JDrone has launched a cargo drone service in rural Japan, using powerful heavy-lift drones like the Yamaha FAZER R G2 and DJI Flycart 30. This service aims to improve logistics in Japan's mountainous regions and assist in emergency situations.
Southampton Airport has launched a digital drone flight approval service, allowing operators to request access to restricted airspace via an online platform or app. This new system, developed by NATS Services and Altitude Angel, has also been used by Aberdeen Airport (covered 2 weeks ago).
Contracts and Partnerships
Wave Aerospace partnered with Amentum to integrate and scale uncrewed aircraft technology for commercial and government clients, focusing on the Falcon, Huntress, and MULE series.
BBLeap’s LeapBox has selected Silicon Sensing’s DMU11 IMU to improve precision in crop spraying, which enables waste reduction and minimising environmental impact.
Zircon Aviation joined the Drone Logistics Ecosystem (DLE) to scale its Firefly VTOL aircraft for continuous wildfire suppression using high-velocity thrust.
Investments
Flock Safety acquired Aerodome to integrate drone technology into its public safety tools for enhanced emergency response.
Development and Trials
ZenaTech began a U.S. trial of its ZenaDrone IQ Nano to automate inventory management in collaboration with a major auto parts manufacturer.
Product Launches
New Technology Announcements
Numerica launched Spark radar for APS, SHORAD, and C-UAS with advanced threat detection and engagement capabilities.
Guideline Geo released the MALÅ GeoDrone 600, a GPR drone for near-surface surveys in challenging environments.
UXV Technologies introduced the SRoC 7-Inch Windows controller for defense robotics, enhancing mission planning and safety.
MyDefence unveiled Spectrum Warrior, an AI-powered system to improve drone detection and situational awareness for soldiers.
Leidos rebranded its counter-UAS technology as "AirShield," offering advanced threat detection and integration capabilities.
Domo Tactical Communications launched BluSDR-90-UL, an ultra-light SDR optimized for uncrewed systems with long-range connectivity.
UAVOS introduced the SDLM-04B linear servo actuator for precise control in unmanned aircraft and robotics.
EIZO Rugged Solutions launched the Condor GR5S-AD5000 GPU card for mission-critical AI data processing in unmanned systems.
UAV Navigation developed a HUD system to enhance situational awareness for UAV operators during complex missions.
Teledyne FLIR unveiled two products: Cerberus XL, a counter-drone system for air, ground, and maritime threats; and Vue TV128+, a dual-sensor camera for the SIRAS drone, suitable for various inspection missions.
Palantir developed VNav to enable drone navigation in GPS-denied environments, improving autonomy.
DroneUp revealed new technologies aimed at achieving $7 drone deliveries by enhancing flight autonomy and efficiency.
Sharper Shape launched Asset Insights software for automated utility inspections, improving maintenance accuracy.
PrincipIoT released the F7 flight controller, emphasizing security and compliance for FPV drones and commercial applications.
DJI’s Goggles N3 are set to launch as budget-friendly FPV goggles compatible with DJI drones, expanding FPV experiences.
New UAV Announcements
DJI unveiled the Air 3S, a dual-camera drone offering enhanced flight time and obstacle avoidance for better travel photography. An FCC filing also shows DJI expanding its product lineup with the Osmo 360, RS 4 Mini, and Mic Mini for broader content creation.
HOURGLASS introduced modular, 3D-printed quadcopters for adaptable, cost-efficient military operations.
AeroVironment launched the P550, an autonomous eVTOL UAS with AI-driven autonomy for versatile battlefield missions.
SpearUAV released VIPER I, a drone designed for intercepting airborne threats with advanced tracking capabilities.
Red Cat unveiled the ARACHNID family of drones for ISR and precision strike missions, enhancing battlefield adaptability.
Drones for Good
A drone aided in the rescue of two hikers in Minnesota by quickly pinpointing their location in a remote area.
Private operators used heavy-lift drones to deliver supplies to isolated communities in North Carolina after hurricane Helene.
The FAA’s new Radar Data Pathfinder Program supports BVLOS drone operations by granting access to federal radar data.
The Tribal Lands Department is using DJI drones to survey land, manage wildfire restoration, and combat invasive plants.
Legal
The U.S. halted imports of some DJI drones due to concerns over Uyghur forced labour in Xinjiang and national security risks, which DJI is disputing. DJI has also filed a lawsuit against the U.S. DoD, challenging its designation as a “Chinese military company” as unjust and harmful to its business, and is seeking removal from the Pentagon’s blacklist.
650+ German startup founders and investors are urging the government to support Lilium, which risks insolvency without financial backing as the company needs a €100m loan guarantee to unlock further private investment and sustain operations.
A Chinese student was sentenced to prison for flying a drone over a restricted U.S. naval site, raising security concerns.
A California man was arrested for using a drone to deliver fentanyl, facing serious drug distribution charges.
A Maine man was charged for using a drone to drop explosives, highlighting the misuse of drone technology.
Policy and Regulatory Updates
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has updated its guidelines for UAS operations, focusing on best practices in the open and specific categories. These guidelines incorporate lessons from two years of regulatory implementation.
In other news…
Bentley has filed a patent for a drone integrated into the hood of its cars, designed to assist with navigation, parking, and emergency situations. The drone, styled after the iconic "Flying B" logo, can be controlled via smartphone or the car's infotainment system, and it automatically charges while docked.
As always, thank you for reading!
If you have any questions or need support with the UAS market, technology, or business, get in touch: adit@elantar.com.
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Have a great week ahead,
Adit